Private Christy brought in fresh fuel for the fire. A half-hour passed, another half-hour.
"Now," said Emmeline, "I am going."
Private Christy made no answer. The hungry crowd in the yard had faded away; the very atmosphere seemed charged with suspense. Emmeline looked out of the door. Was the army still here?
The army was still here; but the army was formed, massed. It was like a great animal, alive, awake, crouching for a spring.
Then Emmeline screamed, and whirled round on the step. Near at hand—almost, it seemed to her, in the very house itself—the cannon roared.
CHAPTER IV
THE SECOND DAY OF BATTLE
At the sound of the cannon shot, Private Christy, still sitting calmly on the step, looked up.
"No call to be—"